It’s Thursday and Astros are still alive

It’s the final Thursday of the regular season and the Astros are still alive.

Three and a half out with four or five games to go. Long shot, but the Mets and Milwaukee are making it interesting. By the way, which of the three teams would go further in the playoffs: Houston, Milwaukee or New York?

One player that has taken his lumps this season is Hunter Pence. Outside of the starting rotation, very few players will be more key to success in 2009 than Pence.

While his stats this season are reasonable (.270/24/81 at this point), they don’t measure up to 2007 and the expectations of a bar set high by fans and media. Next season should reveal whether 2008 represented a sophomore slump or if he was simply over-achieving in 2007.

Is he the .300+ hitter we watched with awe and excitement in ’07 or is he more like the .270ish hitter with flashes of awkward uncertainty at the plate this season? I suspect he’s somewhere in between, perhaps a .285-.290 career hitter who may develop 30 home run, 100 RBI power.

I still believe the Astros should consider moving Pence back to center field and pick up another corner outfielder. It could be cheaper and add pop to the lineup.

What’s been your biggest disapointment with Pence? His strikeouts? His flailing a slider pitches? Baserunning mistakes? Or are you disappointed at all?

    

Andy Pettitte now says if he pitches next season, he’d prefer to wear the Yankees’ pinstripes. Okay, let’s move along.

Here’s another former Astro who’s making his way back.

Anyone interested in Mike Hampton? Hampy turned 36 earlier this month and may be looking for a new employer in 2009, although the Braves have not ruled out bringing him back. He’s 3-3 this year and has shown some signs of his old self.

But there is a huge risk. Hampton didn’t pitch at all in the big leagues in 2006-07 after pitching in only 12 games in 2005. Some team will take a shot at the former Astro. If he’s willing to pitch here for $2-$3 million, do you have that discussion?

After all, he’s hitting .227, four points higher than Michael Bourn.

And it brings up a philosophical point as we draw near to the off season. As GM, would you spread the risk and bring in several Hampton and Randy Wolf types or would you pool your resources to go after one proven, bonafide starter with little or no injury history?